Waiting For Summer’s Return

In October 1894, Summer Steadman is seeking employment in the small Mennonite community of Gaeddert, Kansas. She and her family were on their way to settle in Oklahoma when she lost them all to typhoid fever. Peter Ollenburger, the local mill owner, is a man who knows loss as well: he lost his own wife when coming to the New World. He is now seeking a tutor for his son, Thomas. Frau Steadman seems perfect for the job, but will the community he belongs to accept this arrangement with an outsider? Summer has her doubts as well. She is a well-educated Boston woman, used to a life of leisure. The Ollenburgers live a simple life. She is shocked to find she will live in a shack with a dirt floor.

This outstanding inspirational story reveals true faith and love that transcend grief and prejudice. The author honors the Mennonite traditions, revealing a little of the history of these amazing people. The author effectively uses Plautdietsch, or Low German, to enhance the story. The reader learns the meaning of these words along with the main character. This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys stories of Mennonite or prairie living.

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